NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 19 



with cases made of paper, &c. Knowing the eggs were unfertilised I 

 destroyed the lot, supposing they would produce females only. I visited 

 Brockenhurst occasionally during the last fortnight in July, and found 

 eleven pupae of Vanessa polychloros, nine from a shed under some elms, 

 close by the station, and two in the station whilst waiting for the train, and 

 a gentleman gave me six from a batch he discovered feeding upon sallow; 

 eleven have emerged, but the elm-fed specimens are larger than the others. 

 In the forest I netted one confluent male, an Argyniiis paphia, four 

 valezina, several A. adippe, and Thecla quercus, the latter resting upon 

 ferns under young oak trees. In one of the ridings I saw a large dragon- 

 fly dart at a male paphia; both fell to the ground, the latter was soon 

 disabled. I have seen them attack flies, but never such big game before. 

 — J. H. Fowj.ER ; Leith Cottage. Grove Road, Wimborne, Dorset, 

 November 8, 1888. 



Early Season in New Zealand. — After a cold and tempestuous 

 summer, we have here experienced a remarkably fine winter and early 

 spring. On Sept. 16th I was much surprised to come across several larvae 

 of V. gonerUla, who had passed their second moult and were feeding 

 vigorously. From this it would seem probable that the " new " specimens 

 are likely to appear as early as November 1st, which will be, according to 

 my experience, at least two months before the usual time. T have not 

 observed quite such a marked advancement in other insects, although the 

 season seems to be a very early one. — G. V. Hudson; Wellington, New 

 Zealand, October 17, 1888. 



RocHEFORT IN AuGUST. — Eochcfort is a small town in the Belgian 

 highlands, built in a picturesque valley at the level of 400 meters above the 

 sea. It is surrounded by woods of varied growth and affords every accom- 

 modation to tourists. There are two good hotels in the town, of which 

 the " Hotel Biron " is the largest, and at which attention is paid to the wants 

 of the entomologist. The geological formation of the neighbourhood is schist, 

 overlaying a hard limestone with some marble. The limestone rocks often 

 penetrate the schist, and form hills of a dark blue-black colour. Taking 

 the Hotel Biron as a central point, excursions may be made in various 

 directions. To the south stretches the Han road, which winds round the 

 side of a hill and leads to the famous grottoes of that name. The road is 

 overhung on one side by woods, which afford excellent hunting-ground. The 

 woods belong to the commune and are free to anyone. To the west is the 

 road to Dinan, which is very beautiful, and leads through the forest of 

 Rochefort, as does also the Ciguy road, which branches off" from the Dinan 

 road just beyond the town. This forest is also communal and therefore free. 

 The trees composing the forest are very various in size and character, but 

 most are small ; the underwood is composed of nut-bushes and wild plum, 

 with some broom. To the northward is the Jemelle road, frovn which a 

 path branches off", leading down a deep gully between limestone hills. This 

 gully teems with insects. Many Lepidoptera are common in all these 

 localities ; of these I give a list, so as not to refer to them again : — 

 Argynnis paphia, Vanessa io, V. atalanta, V. cardui, Erehia medea, Pararge 

 egeria, P. inegmra, Satyrus seniele, Thecla betulce, LyccEiia corydon, Colias 

 hyale. Plusia ganviia was so abundant as to become a nuisance on the 

 Han road. On a bright sunny afternoon, this is a good locality, espe- 



